Disclaimer: I don't own any Final Fantasy characters, how sad is that? Well I'll just think up my own
and then I will own some! Christ, I need help.
Anyone know max stats gameshark codes for ffx-2? Hey, I beat it once without any codes! I think I
can indulge myself a bit. And as always, please read and review! Reviews make me feel all warm and
tingly inside. And no one wants an unhappy me.
Chapter 16:
Lani led them to the central hall of Ipsen's Castle like a woman with a mission. Chosen hurried
out of the way, bowing as the four passed. Her swiftly moving legs covered by a billowing skirt.
She walked right up to the old man, cutting his dialogue off, "The Lady and Lord have made
their decision and require use of the 'Sky Chariot.'"
An estatic grin appeared on his wrinkled face, "Praise be! The ceremony may now begin."
The lines hardened around Lani's eyes and mouth, "You don't understand, we need that thing
now!"
"Of course, of course! The ceremony will begin as soon as possible." He said as he hurried
away, no doubt to prepare for this ceremony.
The grinding of Lani's teeth could be heard, "I give up! These fools wouldn't know about logic
or reason if they came and bit them on their asses!"
"This ceremony thing can't be that bad, right? Let's just go along with it, and get the airship
when it's over." Blank suggested, hopefully.
Mikoto nodded, "Yes, we'll just play their game for now."
"If it gets us what we need..."
"Alright!" Lani screeched, "Do whatever suits you. I'm going to pay a visit to that old geezer."
She stormed off, Chosen cowering out of the way. A murderous glint in her eye. Amarant
shook his head, "That woman..." He said as he followed the screeching and teeth grinding. Mikoto
only hoped he wasn't going to help Lani strangle the old man to stop her shrill voice.
"Damn," Blank laughed when they were out of earshot, "those two are something else."
Mikoto cocked an eyebrow, "'Something else' is right. But for being so coarse, they really rely
on each other. It's almost sweet."
"Sweet?"
Mikoto started laughing at the absurdity of her statement, apparently her laughter was
contagious because Blank started laughing as well. Jane found them in this state. The Chosen were
just staring at them, engrossed by the strange behavior.
"My Lady, forgive my intrusion, but you must be prepared for the up-coming ceremony."
The genome looked up, her ribs and cheeks sore from all of the laughing and smiling. "Of
course," a fit of giggles, "I must prepare Blank," this in mock seriousness, "I will be back."
He smiled even wider, "I await your return."
---------------------------------------------------
Jane took her to the richly decorous bedroom. Mikoto sat down on a royal purple divan, while the
Jane hurried to the mahogany wardrobe. She pulled out something green, folding it over her arm.
"With a bit of adjusting, this should fit you nicely."
"Jane, what do you know about the 'Sky Chariot'?"
The woman looked up from the dress, "Only that it rests in ancient ruins to the south. 'Ruins
filled with memories so old they defy time.'"
"Can you take me there?"
She seemed confused, "You will journey there after the ceremony, before then you have no
need of it."
Mikoto went over to her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her a bit, "I need to go there
now."
"But the ceremony-"
"-can wait, I want to see that chariot."
Jane was distressed, "But-but! It's against the prophecy! The teachings!"
Mikoto felt the woman's panic rising, "Hey, calm down! It's O.K.!"
"My Lady!"
"Stop," she knew what she was about to say would distress the woman even more, but it
needed to be said, "Jane, I'm not a deity. I'm..." She paused, then smiled, "I'm simply Mikoto."
"You don't know what you are saying-"
"Yes, I do," she pleaded. "I have a life, a mission to complete. We need to go back to
Alexandria. To warn them of the coming danger. Please take me to it."
Jane was confused, even a bit frightened, "But the teachings..."
"Paraphyses has lied to you, we certainly are not deities," she nearly laughed thinking of
Amarant and Lani like that, "or any kind of supreme being." She paused trying to soothe the woman
and send feelings of trust over the link, "I'm asking you to take us to this airship."
"I don't know."
"Think about it."
Jane took the dress and left, an uneasiness still surrounding her heart. However there was also
the starting of realization. Mikoto believed she would find the answer.
-------------------------------------------------------
Other Chosen came in to escort Mikoto to the ceremony. She wore the emerald dress, the
gossamer cloth just one shade darker than her eyes. It hung from her shoulders, just draping down her
body. The hem reached all the way to the floor, floating around her ankles.
The plip plop of feet surrounded her, but her own soles made a different noise. They walked
down hallways she had never seen before, opened guarded doors. The air chill and damp. They came
to two roman columns, the pillars rising high into the ceiling. Between them was a large stone door,
strange glowing glyphs on them. They opened on their own accord, drawing into the wall.
Inside was a man-made cavern, the walls straight and even. Sconces were placed almost
randomly through the interior. The orange light revealing Mist on the ground.
Mist?
Chosen filled the floorspace, packed tightly together, their attention focused on the altar ahead.
Blank, Amarant, and Lani were up there along with Paraphyses. The old man held an ancient scepter,
topped by an uncut diamond.
Mikoto's escort brought her forward, stopping in front of the old man, "Welcome My lady, the
ceremony may now begin."
------------------------------------------------------------
Mikoto stood next to Blank, "What the hell is going on?" She whispered.
"I don't know, but let's get out of here A.S.A.P. This place creeps me out."
"Where are we supposed to go?" Lani whispered fiercely.
"I may have a way."
Mikoto was prevented from speaking further by Paraphyses addressing the congregation,
"Chosen, today is the final judgement, today we will enter Nirvana. Our forefathers foretold this day.
Salvation for the Chosen, and the apocalypse of this world."
He raised the scepter high, a beam emitted from the diamond, shooting across the cavern onto
a previously unlit wall. Images appeared, glowing in the darkness.
The old man's voice turned mystical, "At first there was only Chaos and Endless Abyss.
Darkness ruled."
A panel showing swirls of energy on an endless backdrop appeared. Mikoto thought the swirls
looked a lot like the energy of magic. The same twisting and turning of colors. But she couldn't get
past the anger and sadness coming from the scene. An ancient sadness, enough to engulf the universe.
"Then Cosmos appeared out of the darkness, the Endless Space."
The swirls of energy contracted to a point, then exploded outwards, creating the universe. Tiny
spots of light and heat in a frigid space.
"But the universe was empty, devoid of matter. Only the fires of stars burned."
The panel showed stars exploding, the novae and supernovae sending elements into the void.
This matter coalesced into meteors, asteroids, comets, and finally planets.
"Thus Gaia was born."
A close up of the barren planet appeared, the surface glowing red with the yellow sun and
backdrop of space behind it. Meteoroids and Asteroids crashed in gigantic explosions, bringing the
substance of water.
"And Gaia grew."
The planet cooled down, the water creating oceans and continents. It rained. The moon
caused tides.
"But Gaia was still barren. Cosmos took pity on her and their union gave rise to life."
A meteorite landed on Gaia, containing the precursors to life. Simple Amino acids and other
organic compounds appeared. The panel fast forwarded through the evolution of life, tiny bacteria and
then algae. These organisms gave rise to true plants, and then animals.
"However, Gaia's evolution, her destiny was not complete."
The life grew and learned, creating technology and learning magic, even the forbidden power of
summoning. The life advancing to the present day. The children of Gaia became powerful enough to
destroy her.
"Gaia was now in danger of destruction, not only by her own children but by outside forces as
well," Mikoto assumed he was referring to the events of ten years ago, "To prevent her demise she
creates her Final Fantasy. She forces her children to fight for her, their home, their planet, and their
mother. In a way, she becomes embodied within individuals, for Gaia does not wish to fade away."
Images Mikoto had never seen before appeared. These people and places were of an
otherworld. Large mechanical bodies and spaceships showed, along with more recognizable things like
moogles and chocobos. Strange monsters and other beings prowled the landscapes. Foreign moons
hung in the starry skies.
The genome peeled her eyes away from the panel, who knew that these people had such
information? Was it correct? She didn't want to think about it, she already had too many things to deal
with. But why did she have the feeling it was true? Some ancient, hidden truth so long concealed. She
looked to the others, they too were riveted on the panel. Perhaps they felt the rightness as well.
Paraphyses raised the scepter once more, "Our ancestors have known the secrets of Gaia for
countless eons. Keeping them closely guarded is our sworn duty. However the prophecy states that
when Gaia and Cosmos reunite, then the universe will collapse, sending all creation back to zero,
Endless Abyss. Now is the time to enter Nirvana."
Mikoto wondered if there had been an otherworld. And how come Gaia was still there?
Perhaps Gaia was reborn, then wouldn't this world just be a reincarnation of Gaia? And then would
Gaia someday end? No matter what her children did to prevent it? The end of the world...
She shook her head, even if what Paraphyses said was true, even if the world would someday
end. Even if...even if the universe collapsed around them, shrinking into a point of infinite time and
space. She was not going to let it happen now.
She turned to the thief standing next to her, "I want to leave."
He didn't hear her, so she spoke a bit louder. He seemed to come out of a trance, "Huh?"
"I want to leave now."
"Oh, sorry." he shook his head, as if to clear it, "Yeah, that's probably a good idea, but how
are we gonna get past them?"
She caught the attention of the bounty hunters, signaling with her eyes to leave. "Leave it to
me," she whispered, then motioned for them to stand back and out of her way, "Oh, and Blank, try not
to freak out."
She then reached within, bringing up the power for a spell, "Oglop Drop!"
The insects started to fall from the ceiling, thousands of them. The Chosen started to panic,
having no idea why these insect were just appearing. Oglops hopped around everywhere, the common
area was chaos as the Chosen tried to get away from the filthy little buggers.
Blank swallowed visibly and ran through the crowd with Mikoto following a second later.
Amarant groaned at the, in his opinion, pathetic display. Then he turned to Lani, and upon seeing her
pale face, he simply picked her up and walked calmly out of the cavern.
When the bounty hunters passed through the doorway, Mikoto slammed on the switch sending
the huge stone monoliths closed. There was a loud bang that echoed down the dark hallway. The four
continued down the maze-like corridors. Seemingly identical twists and turns meeting them.
"Which way?" Blank asked to no one in particular.
"If we knew we wouldn't be running around in circles, now would we?" Lani said sweetly
from her position over Amarant's shoulder.
"This arguing is pointless, calm down and go left." Amarant said, dropping Lani
unceremoniously to the floor.
"What the hell was that for, Red?"
He crossed his arms, "You're heavy."
Lani's eye was twitching, "One of these days, Red. One of these days."
Suddenly someone touched Mikoto's shoulder, she hopped back in shock, "Who-Jane?"
The woman bowed, "Yes, My Lady-I mean Mikoto. Please come with me, I know the way
out."
The other three looked to her, "She knows the way."
"Lead on." Blank said.
Lani didn't look convinced, "Are you sure? What if she leads us back, huh? I don't know
about you guys, but I was starting to get some bad vibes from that whole 'ceremony' thing. Who
knows what-" she was cut off by Amarant just slinging her over his shoulder again.
"Just get us out of here before I have to gag her."
"Hmph..."
Jane nodded and took off down the right passage. They followed her until the party came upon
some stairs, "These stairs will take you to the main hall."
The others hurried up, but Mikoto stayed behind, "Aren't you coming?"
"I cannot leave my home, My Lady."
The genome shook her head, "There is nothing for you here, come with us."
Jane still looked uncertain, "But-"
Mikoto interrupted her, "Otherwise why did you help us? You must not believe anymore.
Besides, I'm sure there are other things you want to do with your life than sit around a musty old castle
in the middle of nowhere."
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "Well, I've always wanted to take care of
children."
"I think I can help with that."
"Hey you guys, hurry up," a few seconds later, "Move your asses now!" From Blank at the
top of the staircase.
Mikoto raised her brow expectantly.
Jane looked up, a grin now plastered on her face, "Alright."
and then I will own some! Christ, I need help.
Anyone know max stats gameshark codes for ffx-2? Hey, I beat it once without any codes! I think I
can indulge myself a bit. And as always, please read and review! Reviews make me feel all warm and
tingly inside. And no one wants an unhappy me.
Chapter 16:
Lani led them to the central hall of Ipsen's Castle like a woman with a mission. Chosen hurried
out of the way, bowing as the four passed. Her swiftly moving legs covered by a billowing skirt.
She walked right up to the old man, cutting his dialogue off, "The Lady and Lord have made
their decision and require use of the 'Sky Chariot.'"
An estatic grin appeared on his wrinkled face, "Praise be! The ceremony may now begin."
The lines hardened around Lani's eyes and mouth, "You don't understand, we need that thing
now!"
"Of course, of course! The ceremony will begin as soon as possible." He said as he hurried
away, no doubt to prepare for this ceremony.
The grinding of Lani's teeth could be heard, "I give up! These fools wouldn't know about logic
or reason if they came and bit them on their asses!"
"This ceremony thing can't be that bad, right? Let's just go along with it, and get the airship
when it's over." Blank suggested, hopefully.
Mikoto nodded, "Yes, we'll just play their game for now."
"If it gets us what we need..."
"Alright!" Lani screeched, "Do whatever suits you. I'm going to pay a visit to that old geezer."
She stormed off, Chosen cowering out of the way. A murderous glint in her eye. Amarant
shook his head, "That woman..." He said as he followed the screeching and teeth grinding. Mikoto
only hoped he wasn't going to help Lani strangle the old man to stop her shrill voice.
"Damn," Blank laughed when they were out of earshot, "those two are something else."
Mikoto cocked an eyebrow, "'Something else' is right. But for being so coarse, they really rely
on each other. It's almost sweet."
"Sweet?"
Mikoto started laughing at the absurdity of her statement, apparently her laughter was
contagious because Blank started laughing as well. Jane found them in this state. The Chosen were
just staring at them, engrossed by the strange behavior.
"My Lady, forgive my intrusion, but you must be prepared for the up-coming ceremony."
The genome looked up, her ribs and cheeks sore from all of the laughing and smiling. "Of
course," a fit of giggles, "I must prepare Blank," this in mock seriousness, "I will be back."
He smiled even wider, "I await your return."
---------------------------------------------------
Jane took her to the richly decorous bedroom. Mikoto sat down on a royal purple divan, while the
Jane hurried to the mahogany wardrobe. She pulled out something green, folding it over her arm.
"With a bit of adjusting, this should fit you nicely."
"Jane, what do you know about the 'Sky Chariot'?"
The woman looked up from the dress, "Only that it rests in ancient ruins to the south. 'Ruins
filled with memories so old they defy time.'"
"Can you take me there?"
She seemed confused, "You will journey there after the ceremony, before then you have no
need of it."
Mikoto went over to her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her a bit, "I need to go there
now."
"But the ceremony-"
"-can wait, I want to see that chariot."
Jane was distressed, "But-but! It's against the prophecy! The teachings!"
Mikoto felt the woman's panic rising, "Hey, calm down! It's O.K.!"
"My Lady!"
"Stop," she knew what she was about to say would distress the woman even more, but it
needed to be said, "Jane, I'm not a deity. I'm..." She paused, then smiled, "I'm simply Mikoto."
"You don't know what you are saying-"
"Yes, I do," she pleaded. "I have a life, a mission to complete. We need to go back to
Alexandria. To warn them of the coming danger. Please take me to it."
Jane was confused, even a bit frightened, "But the teachings..."
"Paraphyses has lied to you, we certainly are not deities," she nearly laughed thinking of
Amarant and Lani like that, "or any kind of supreme being." She paused trying to soothe the woman
and send feelings of trust over the link, "I'm asking you to take us to this airship."
"I don't know."
"Think about it."
Jane took the dress and left, an uneasiness still surrounding her heart. However there was also
the starting of realization. Mikoto believed she would find the answer.
-------------------------------------------------------
Other Chosen came in to escort Mikoto to the ceremony. She wore the emerald dress, the
gossamer cloth just one shade darker than her eyes. It hung from her shoulders, just draping down her
body. The hem reached all the way to the floor, floating around her ankles.
The plip plop of feet surrounded her, but her own soles made a different noise. They walked
down hallways she had never seen before, opened guarded doors. The air chill and damp. They came
to two roman columns, the pillars rising high into the ceiling. Between them was a large stone door,
strange glowing glyphs on them. They opened on their own accord, drawing into the wall.
Inside was a man-made cavern, the walls straight and even. Sconces were placed almost
randomly through the interior. The orange light revealing Mist on the ground.
Mist?
Chosen filled the floorspace, packed tightly together, their attention focused on the altar ahead.
Blank, Amarant, and Lani were up there along with Paraphyses. The old man held an ancient scepter,
topped by an uncut diamond.
Mikoto's escort brought her forward, stopping in front of the old man, "Welcome My lady, the
ceremony may now begin."
------------------------------------------------------------
Mikoto stood next to Blank, "What the hell is going on?" She whispered.
"I don't know, but let's get out of here A.S.A.P. This place creeps me out."
"Where are we supposed to go?" Lani whispered fiercely.
"I may have a way."
Mikoto was prevented from speaking further by Paraphyses addressing the congregation,
"Chosen, today is the final judgement, today we will enter Nirvana. Our forefathers foretold this day.
Salvation for the Chosen, and the apocalypse of this world."
He raised the scepter high, a beam emitted from the diamond, shooting across the cavern onto
a previously unlit wall. Images appeared, glowing in the darkness.
The old man's voice turned mystical, "At first there was only Chaos and Endless Abyss.
Darkness ruled."
A panel showing swirls of energy on an endless backdrop appeared. Mikoto thought the swirls
looked a lot like the energy of magic. The same twisting and turning of colors. But she couldn't get
past the anger and sadness coming from the scene. An ancient sadness, enough to engulf the universe.
"Then Cosmos appeared out of the darkness, the Endless Space."
The swirls of energy contracted to a point, then exploded outwards, creating the universe. Tiny
spots of light and heat in a frigid space.
"But the universe was empty, devoid of matter. Only the fires of stars burned."
The panel showed stars exploding, the novae and supernovae sending elements into the void.
This matter coalesced into meteors, asteroids, comets, and finally planets.
"Thus Gaia was born."
A close up of the barren planet appeared, the surface glowing red with the yellow sun and
backdrop of space behind it. Meteoroids and Asteroids crashed in gigantic explosions, bringing the
substance of water.
"And Gaia grew."
The planet cooled down, the water creating oceans and continents. It rained. The moon
caused tides.
"But Gaia was still barren. Cosmos took pity on her and their union gave rise to life."
A meteorite landed on Gaia, containing the precursors to life. Simple Amino acids and other
organic compounds appeared. The panel fast forwarded through the evolution of life, tiny bacteria and
then algae. These organisms gave rise to true plants, and then animals.
"However, Gaia's evolution, her destiny was not complete."
The life grew and learned, creating technology and learning magic, even the forbidden power of
summoning. The life advancing to the present day. The children of Gaia became powerful enough to
destroy her.
"Gaia was now in danger of destruction, not only by her own children but by outside forces as
well," Mikoto assumed he was referring to the events of ten years ago, "To prevent her demise she
creates her Final Fantasy. She forces her children to fight for her, their home, their planet, and their
mother. In a way, she becomes embodied within individuals, for Gaia does not wish to fade away."
Images Mikoto had never seen before appeared. These people and places were of an
otherworld. Large mechanical bodies and spaceships showed, along with more recognizable things like
moogles and chocobos. Strange monsters and other beings prowled the landscapes. Foreign moons
hung in the starry skies.
The genome peeled her eyes away from the panel, who knew that these people had such
information? Was it correct? She didn't want to think about it, she already had too many things to deal
with. But why did she have the feeling it was true? Some ancient, hidden truth so long concealed. She
looked to the others, they too were riveted on the panel. Perhaps they felt the rightness as well.
Paraphyses raised the scepter once more, "Our ancestors have known the secrets of Gaia for
countless eons. Keeping them closely guarded is our sworn duty. However the prophecy states that
when Gaia and Cosmos reunite, then the universe will collapse, sending all creation back to zero,
Endless Abyss. Now is the time to enter Nirvana."
Mikoto wondered if there had been an otherworld. And how come Gaia was still there?
Perhaps Gaia was reborn, then wouldn't this world just be a reincarnation of Gaia? And then would
Gaia someday end? No matter what her children did to prevent it? The end of the world...
She shook her head, even if what Paraphyses said was true, even if the world would someday
end. Even if...even if the universe collapsed around them, shrinking into a point of infinite time and
space. She was not going to let it happen now.
She turned to the thief standing next to her, "I want to leave."
He didn't hear her, so she spoke a bit louder. He seemed to come out of a trance, "Huh?"
"I want to leave now."
"Oh, sorry." he shook his head, as if to clear it, "Yeah, that's probably a good idea, but how
are we gonna get past them?"
She caught the attention of the bounty hunters, signaling with her eyes to leave. "Leave it to
me," she whispered, then motioned for them to stand back and out of her way, "Oh, and Blank, try not
to freak out."
She then reached within, bringing up the power for a spell, "Oglop Drop!"
The insects started to fall from the ceiling, thousands of them. The Chosen started to panic,
having no idea why these insect were just appearing. Oglops hopped around everywhere, the common
area was chaos as the Chosen tried to get away from the filthy little buggers.
Blank swallowed visibly and ran through the crowd with Mikoto following a second later.
Amarant groaned at the, in his opinion, pathetic display. Then he turned to Lani, and upon seeing her
pale face, he simply picked her up and walked calmly out of the cavern.
When the bounty hunters passed through the doorway, Mikoto slammed on the switch sending
the huge stone monoliths closed. There was a loud bang that echoed down the dark hallway. The four
continued down the maze-like corridors. Seemingly identical twists and turns meeting them.
"Which way?" Blank asked to no one in particular.
"If we knew we wouldn't be running around in circles, now would we?" Lani said sweetly
from her position over Amarant's shoulder.
"This arguing is pointless, calm down and go left." Amarant said, dropping Lani
unceremoniously to the floor.
"What the hell was that for, Red?"
He crossed his arms, "You're heavy."
Lani's eye was twitching, "One of these days, Red. One of these days."
Suddenly someone touched Mikoto's shoulder, she hopped back in shock, "Who-Jane?"
The woman bowed, "Yes, My Lady-I mean Mikoto. Please come with me, I know the way
out."
The other three looked to her, "She knows the way."
"Lead on." Blank said.
Lani didn't look convinced, "Are you sure? What if she leads us back, huh? I don't know
about you guys, but I was starting to get some bad vibes from that whole 'ceremony' thing. Who
knows what-" she was cut off by Amarant just slinging her over his shoulder again.
"Just get us out of here before I have to gag her."
"Hmph..."
Jane nodded and took off down the right passage. They followed her until the party came upon
some stairs, "These stairs will take you to the main hall."
The others hurried up, but Mikoto stayed behind, "Aren't you coming?"
"I cannot leave my home, My Lady."
The genome shook her head, "There is nothing for you here, come with us."
Jane still looked uncertain, "But-"
Mikoto interrupted her, "Otherwise why did you help us? You must not believe anymore.
Besides, I'm sure there are other things you want to do with your life than sit around a musty old castle
in the middle of nowhere."
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "Well, I've always wanted to take care of
children."
"I think I can help with that."
"Hey you guys, hurry up," a few seconds later, "Move your asses now!" From Blank at the
top of the staircase.
Mikoto raised her brow expectantly.
Jane looked up, a grin now plastered on her face, "Alright."
